Hand cart for stacking goods in interlocking relationship

ABSTRACT

A hand cart for stacking goods, such as cartons, beverage sixpacks, etc., includes a vertical extending carrying space that is defined by a back main frame member, two vertical side structures, and a bottom platform structure, with the bottom platform structure being inclined relative to the horizontal so as to define with the back frame member an included angle less than 90*. In addition, the back main frame is inclined relative to the vertical whereby packaged goods stacked on the hand cart are prevented from toppling, and the goods are interlocked in such manner that the packages must be removed in a desired sequence from the stack of goods.

United States Patent [191 Swick, Jr. et al.

HAND CART FOR STACKING GOODS IN INTERLOCKING RELATIONSHIP Inventors:George W. Swick, Jr., Edina, Minn.; Robert A. Priest, Fort Worth, Tex.;Jerry R. Trimble, Saint Paul, Minn.

The Cornelius Company, Minneapolis, Minn.

Filed: Aug. 9, 1971 Appl. No.: 170,167

Assignee:

US. Cl. 280/36 R, 280/793 Int. Cl B62b 11/00 Field of Search 280/793,79.2, 79.1,

280/36 R, 47.24, 33.99 R; 211/49 R References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 6/1965 Heimbruch 280/3399 R 7/1941 Pace 9/1969 Anderson 280/36 RJuly 17, 1973 2,710,221 6/1955 Hinners 211/49 R 2,300,799 11/1942Nausbaum .1 211/49R Primary Examiner-Richard J. Johnson AssistantExaminer-Robert R. Song Attorney-Thomas M. Marshall [57] ABSTRACT A handcart for stacking goods, such as cartons, beverage six-packs, etc.,includes a vertical extending carrying space that is defined by a backmain frame member,

15 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures HAND CART FOR STACKING GOODS ININTERLOCKING. RELATIONSHIP The present invention relates to hand carts,and more particularly, hand carts which are adapted to be stacked with.goods at a warehouse and transported to a store while being maintainedon the hand cart, with the hand cart also serving as the display standin the store until all of the goods have been removed.

In theinterest of reducing the cost of transporting and displaying goodsin stores such as supermarkets, the food industry has resorted to theuse of movable hand carts for holding stacked goods, such as beveragecartons (six packs), packages, etc. The hand carts may be collapsible,andare adapted to define a vertical extending carrying space that isopen at its front end. Goods, such as bottles or cans of beveragescontained in six-packs, packaged goods, and the like, are stacked on thehand carts and are delivered from the warehouse directly to thestore,.wh ere the hand cart is placed into a suitable opening in thedisplay space of the store so as to contain and display the product tocustomers. After the products have beenremoved from the hand cart, thehand cart may be readily collapsed by folding of the sidesand bottomportions against a back main frame member, and the cart is returned tothe warehouse for reuse. The provision of wheels greatly facilitates thetransporting of the goods, andthe carts greatly decrease the manuallabor required for transporting and displaying the goods.

One ofthe primary considerations in the use of movablehand carts inapplications as described above is the requirement that the goods bestacked in a manner which prevents inadvertent toppling or removal fromthe hand cart. The hand carts are generally constructed as including aback main frame, two vertical side frames, preferably pivotallyconnected to the back main frame, and a bottom platform or shelf memberwhich is pivotally connected to the back main frame. The bottom shelfmember is disposed parallel to the ground, with the back main framemember being vertical to the ground. so as to define an included angleof 90 between said back main frame member and said bottom shelf member.This construction results in an arrangement where each stacked item issupported by the item directly beneath same, and in instances where astacked item is pulled from the hand cart in such manner as to create adragging force on the stacked item beneath same, there is a tendency forthe lower package to move forwardly, thereby possibly toppling orfallingfrom the hand cart.

In response to the problem associated with the stack ing of goods onconventional hand carts, the industry has resorted to the use to someextent of a self-recoiling roll of plastic material disposed betweeneach layer of stacked goods. The self-recoiling sheet provides aconstant biasing force against a layer of goods so as to prevent theforwardmost item from inadvertently toppling from the stacked goods.

Another important consideration in the use of hand carts in theapplication as above mentioned is that the stacked goods must besubstantially contained within the vertical extending carrying space ofthe hand cart. That is, the stacked goods must be arranged so as to fallwithin the confines of the vertical extending carrying space in that thespace normally available in a supermarket is extremely limited and thecarts are designed so as to fit within certain designated display areas.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a hand cartthat includes means for interlocking stacked goods so as to prevent theinadvertent toppling of goods, without resorting to additional holdingmeans.

It is another object ofthis invention to provide a hand cart forstacking goods in interlocking relationship, with the stacked goodsfalling within the confines of the vertical extending carrying spacethat is open at the front of the hand cart.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improvedhand cart having an inherent construction for retaining the stackedgoods in place.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide anew andimproved hand cart for stacking goods in interlocking relationship,which hand cart may be collapsible for space saving purposes.

These and other objects are obtained by the provision of a hand cartcomprising a generally rectangular main frame to which are connected apair of side structures and a bottom platform structure, with the bottomplatform structure being inclined relative to the horizontal so as todefine with said main frame an included angle less than 90, andpreferably within the range of to 86. In addition, the back main framemay include a secondary wallportion which is inclined relative .to thevertical at an angle less than the angle formed bythe bottom platformstructure with respect to the horizontal. By this arrangement, goodsstacked in the hand cart of the subject invention are caused to overlapslightly in such manner that the goods must be removed in a desiredsequence thereby preventing the inadvertent toppling of the goods duringremoval of an item, and in such manner that in the static position, the

, goods are biased in a stable direction toward the back of the handcart. Preferably, the hand cart is mounted on wheels, with the sidestructures and the bottom platform structure being pivotally connectedto the main frame structure so as to be collapsible, and ashelfextension is provided for the bottom platform structure so as toincrease the surface carrying area of the hand cart. In addition, .thetotal space occupied by the stacked goods falls within the confines ofthe vertically extending carrying space defined by the hand cart so asto facilitate the use of the hand cart in spacesprovided for it insupermarkets.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be made tothe following detailed description and 'to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hand cart of the subject invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the cart shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the cart shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the cart shown in FIG. I;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a hand cart of the subject invention includinga plurality of packagesstackcd on the hand cart and FIG 6 is a detailedview of a locking means for securing a shelf to a vertical sidestructure of the subject hand cart.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 4, the hand cart of thesubject invention is designated by the numeral 10, and basicallycomprises a generally rectangular back frame number 11, a pair of sidevertical frame members 12, and an inclined bottom platform or shelfstructure 13. Each vertical side structure 12 is pivotally connectedabout a generally vertical axis to the main frame number 11 by pivotconnections 14, 14, while the inclined bottom self structure 13 ispivotally connected to the main frame member 11 about a generallyhorizontal pivot connection 15.

Referring to FIGS. l-3, the main frame member 11 includes an invertedU-shaped tubular member 20 to which are secured the flanges 21, 22forming the pivot connections 14,14 for the side structures 12. Inaddition, castors or wheels 23 are secured to the lower end of themember 20, and the main frame includes an inclined wall portion 24extending from approximately the pivot axis to a point intermediate thevertical height of the main frame 11. The inclined wall portion 24 ofthe main frame is rectangular in configuration and is formed by atubular frame structure 25. Covering the front side of the framestructure 25 is a sheet or screen material 26 which extends from thelower tubular member of the structure 25 to a point adjacent the top ofthe main frame 11 where said screen extends between the legs of tubularmember and is attached to the back side thereof by screws 27.

The secondary frame structure is approximately one-half the totalvertical height of the main frame structure 20, and the plane of thewall portion 24 is inclined with respect to the generally vertical mainframe 11 in a direction toward the bottom shelf structure 13. Areinforcing bar 28 extends between the legs of the U-shaped member 20 toprovide additional support for sheet 26.

As a result of this construction, the front surface of the main framemember is generally inclined with respect to the vertical, with thedegree of inclination varying from a generally vertical attitude at theupper end of the framemember to an inclined attitude adjacent to thelower end of the main frame member where the secondary frame structuredefines the inclined wall portion 24 of the main frame member 11.

Each side structure 12 has mounted at the forward end thereof a castoror wheel 30, which castor or wheel member includes a horizontal support31. Furthermore, as demonstrated in FIG. 6, each vertical side structureincludes a generally U-shaped bracket 32 which cooperates with asuitable appendage 60, in the inclined bottom platform or shelfstructure 13 so as to positively connect each side structure 12 to thebottom platform structure 13 when the hand cart is in its operativeunfolded position.

The bottom shelf structure 13 is pivotally connected as at 15 to theflanges 22 of the main frame member 11, and includes two depending legs40 disposed adjacent the front portion of said bottom platform 13. Eachleg 40 is positioned to bear against the support surface 31 ofa wheel sothat the bottom platform 13 is inclined with respect to the horizontal.Preferably, the angle of inclination is between 6 and l0", whereby thebottom shelf portion, in conjunction with the back main frame member 11defines an included angle of approximately 86. Depending from the lowerportion of the shelf structure 13 are two elongated tubular members 41and 42 which are adapted to provide support for a removal shelfextension member 50. The shelf extension member 50 includes twoelongated arms 51 and 52 which are adapted to fit within the tubularstructures 41 and 42 when it is desired to increase the planar area ofthe bottom shelf structure 13. In another alternative the shelfextension member 50 may be pivotally hinged to the bottom shelf member13, along the front edge thereof. With this construction physicalplacement or removal of the extension member 50 is not required.

As is readily apparent, the hand cart 10 of the subject invention may bereadily collapse by merely folding the bottom platform 13 about the axis15 into a generally vertical position, and by folding inwardly thevertical side frame members 12 against the backframe member 11.

The unique configuration of the hand cart of the subject invention whenin its fully operative position as shown in FIGS. 1 through 5 providesthe inherent advantage of preventing stacked goods mounted on the cartfrom toppling. As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of packages, designatedby the letters A through BB are stacked, with the configuration of thecart causing the packages in the respective layers to overlap therebyresulting in an interlocked relationship. More particularly, package 8"overlaps both packages E and F so as to provide a restraining forcewhich maintains package E in place as package A is removed from thestack. Assuming the purchaser drags" package A from the stack, package Ewould have a tendancy to pivot about its lower front edge possiblyresulting in its inadvertent toppling from the stack. However with thearrangement of packages as provided by the hand cart of the subjectinvention, a portion of the weight of package B provides a restrainingforce at the upper rear corner of package E to prevent this inadvertenttumbling. Furthermore, the inclined shelf 13 causes the entire assemblyof stacked goods to be inclined rearwardly thereby preventing theinadvertent tumbling of the front row of packages A, E, I, etc.

After package A has been removed, the next purchaser must remove packageB since package 13" is partially restrained from removal by the weightof package B." Next package E" may be removed, followed by package C.Accordingly, the hand cart of the subject invention provides theadditional advantage of causing customers to remove packages in adesired sequence, thereby further contributing to the orderly removal ofgoods from the cart.

As mentioned above, the bottom shelf structure 13 is inclined withrespect to the horozontial so as to define with the back main frame 11an included angle less than The inclination of the bottom shelfstructure provides two inherent advantages. Firstly, all of the goodsstacked on the cart are tilted rearwardly against the back frame member,thereby increasing the stability on the cart when in static display andalso when the cart is being moved from the truck to the display locationin the store. Secondly, the inclination of the bottom shelf portioncauses the overlapping relationship of the layers of stacked goodsthereby providing the interlocking arrangement between adjacent packagedgoods to prevent inadvertent toppling of a package upon the removal ofanother package. Preferably, the lower portion of the back frame memberis inclinedwith respect to the vertical to a degree less than the angleassumed by the bottom platform 13 with respect to the horizontal. Ineffect, this difference in angles results in a decreased overlappingbetween the layers of the stacked goods, but this is desirable in thatthe first advantage of the inclined bottom shelf structure (i.e,, toincline the packaged goods rearwardly) is still maintained. Because ofthis geometric relationship of elements, as illustrated in the diagrams,the angle assumed by the sheet material 26 decreases from the lowerportion of the main frame member 11 to the upper portion thereof. Infact, as illustrated, the angle assumed by the sheet material 26 withrespect to the vertical is zero at the upper end of the rectangular mainframe member 11. This particular consideration provides the inherentadvantage of confining the packaged goods to the vertical front openspace defined by the cart. This is particularly important in that thespace available for the display of goods in a supermarket is generallylimited, and if the back main frame member were disposed at right anglesto the inclined body shelf platform, the cart would be of greaterdimensions than desired for use in present display spaces.

Although the preferred embodiment of the subject hand cart has beendescribed and illustrated, it is readily apparent that variousmodifications and alterations may be made therein without departing fromthe scope of the invention.

What is claimed:

1. A hand cart for stacking goods in interlocking relationshipcomprising a vertically extending, generally rectangular main frame, apair of side structures connected to parallel side portions of saidmainframe, a bottom platform structure connected to a horizontal lowerportion of said main frame, said bottom platform structure beinginclined so as to define with said main frame an included angle of lessthan 90, said main frame including a wall portion which is inclined atan angle relative to the vertical and of a magnitude less than the angleassumed by the bottom platform structure with the horizontal, with thesaid wall portion being connected at its lower end to said bottomplatform structure to define said included angle less than 90, and saidwall portion being connected at its upper end to points intermediate theparallel side portions of said main frame, whereby said side and bottomplatform structures,.together with said main frame, serve to define avertically extending carrying space that is open at its front.

2. A hand cart as in claim 1 further including wheel means mounted onthe lower end of said hand cart.

3. A hand cart as in claim 1 wherein said side structures are pivotallyconnected to said main frame about generally vertical axes, and saidbottom platform structure is pivotally connected to said horizontallower portion of said main frame about a generally horizontal axis,whereby said side and bottom platform structures are collapsible uponeach other adjacent to the front side of said main frame.

4. A hand cart as in claim 3 wherein locking means are provided forsecuring said side structures to said bottom platform structure whensaid structures are in their extended positions defining the verticalextending carrying space that is open at the front end of the hand cart.

5. A hand cart as in claim I further including shelf structure which isconnected to the bottom platform structure for increasing the surfacearea of said bottom platform structure.

6 A hand cart as in claim I wherein the wall portion of said main framecomprises a generally rectangular secondary frame which is smaller insize than said rectangular frame, and is connected thereto at a pointintermediate the side portions of said main frame.

7. A hand cart as in claim 1 wherein said wall portion is inclinedrelative to the vertical at a greater angle than the portion of the mainframe above said intermediate points on the parallel side portionsthereof.

8. A hand cart for stacking goods in interlocking relationshipcomprising a back main frame member having two spaced apart supportingroller meanS at the bottom portion thereof; opposite side vertical framemembers connected to the opposite side portions of said main framemember, each said opposite vertical frame member having roller meansmounted at its front portion; a bottom shelf member mounted at thebottom portion of said main frame member and between said oppositevertical frame members, said bottom shelf member including dependingextensions which bear against the roller means mounted at the frontportions of said side vertical frame members so as to support saidbottom shelf member at an inclined angle with respect to the horizontalso as to define with said back main frame member an included angle lessthan 90.

9. A hand cart as in claim 8 wherein said opposite side vertical framemembers and said bottom shelf member are pivotally connected to saidback main frame member whereby said bottom shelf member may be pivotallymoved manually from a generally inclined horizontal position to a foldedvertical position substantially parallel with and in close proximity tosaid main frame member, and said vertical frame members adopted to bemoved pivotally manually from the open position at substantially rightangles to said main frame member to an angle of approximately 90 to acollapsed position substantially parallel main frame member.

10. A hand cart as inclaim 8 wherein a shelf extender means is providedand adapted to be connected to said bottom shelf member for increasingthe planar surface area thereof.

11. A hand cart as in claim 8 wherein said included angle is in therange of 86.

12.'A hand cart as in claim 8 wherein the back frame member is generallyvertical and includes a sheet material secured to said back mainframemember in such manner that the angle assumed by the sheet materialwith respect to the vertical decreases from the lower portion of themain frame member to the upper portion thereof. r i i 13. A hand cart asin claim 12 wherein the uppermost portion of said sheet material isvertical.

14. A hand cart for stacking. goods in interlocking relationshipcomprising a back main frame member having two spaced apart supportingroller meansatthe bottom portion thereof; opposite side vertical framemembers connected to the opposite side portions of said main framemember, each said opposite vertical frame member having roller meansmounted at its front portion; a bottom shelf member mountedat the bottomportion of said main frame member and between said opposite sidevertical frame members, said bottom shelf member being inclined withrespect to the horizontal so as to define with said back main framemember an included angle less than said back main frame member includinga wall portion extending at an angle to the plane of said main framemember, which angle is less than the angle of inclination of said bottomshelf member with respect to the horizontal, and wherein said bottomshelf member is connected to said wall portion of said back main framemember.

15. A hand cart as in claim 14 wherein said wall portion is inclinedrelative to said back main frame member approximately 35.

with and close to said i

1. A hand cart for stacking goods in interlocking relationshipcomprising a vertically extending, generally rectangular main frame, apair of side structures connected to parallel side portions of said mainframe, a bottom platform structure connected to a horizontal lowerportion of said main frame, said bottom platform structure beinginclined so as to define with said main frame an included angle of lessthan 90*, said main frame including a wall portion which is inclined atan angle relative to the vertical and of a magnitude less than the angleassumed by the bottom platform structure with the horizontal, with thesaid wall portion being connected at its lower end to said bottomplatform structure to define said included angle less than 90*, and saidwall portion being connected at its upper end to points intermediate theparallel side portions of said main frame, whereby said side and bottomplatform structures, together with said main frame, serve to define avertically extending carrying space that is open at its front.
 2. A handcart as in claim 1 further including wheel means mounted on the lowerend of said hand cart.
 3. A hand cart as in claim 1 wherein said sidestructures are pivotally connected to said main frame about generallyvertical axes, and said bottom platform structure is pivotally connectedto said horizontal lower portion of said main frame about a generallyhorizontal axis, whereby said side and bottom platform structures arecollapsible upon each other adjacent to the front side of said mainframe.
 4. A hand cart as in claim 3 wherein locking means are providedfor securing said side structures to said bottom platform structure whensaid structures are in their extended positions defining the verticalextending carrying space that is open at the front end of the hand cart.5. A hand cart as in claim 1 further including shelf structure which isconnected to the bottom platform structure for increasing the surfacearea of said bottom platform structure. 6 A hand cart as in claim 1wherein the wall portion of said main frame comprises a generallyrectangular secondary frame which is smaller in size than saidrectangular frame, and is connected thereto at a point intermediate theside portions of said main frame.
 7. A hand cart as in claim 1 whereinsaid wall portion is inclined relative to the vertical at a greaterangle than the portion of the main frame above said intermediate pointson the parallel side portions thereof.
 8. A hand cart for stacking goodsin interlocking relationship comprising a back main frame member havingtwo spaced apart supporting roller meanS at the bottom portion thereof;opposite side vertical frame members connected to the opposite sideportions of said main frame member, each said opposite vertical framemember having roller means mounted at its front portion; a bottom shelfmember mounted at the bottom portion of said main frame member andbetween said opposite vertical frame members, said bottom shelf memberincluding depending extensions which bear against the roller meansmounted at the front portions of said side vertical frame members so asto support said bottom shelf member at an inclined angle with respect tothe horizontal so as to define with said back main frame member anincluded angle less than 90*.
 9. A hand cart as in claim 8 wherein saidopposite side vertical frame members and said bottom shelf member arepivotally connected to said back main frame member whereby said bottomshelf member may be pivotally moved manually from a generally inclinedhorizontal position to a folded vertical position substantially parallelwith and in close proximity to said main frame member, and said verticalframe members adopted to be moved pivotally manually from the openposition at substantially right angles to said main frame member to anangle of approximately 90* to a collapsed position substantiallyparallel with and close to said main frame member.
 10. A hand cart as inclaim 8 wherein a shelf extender means is provided and adapted to beconnected to said bottom shelf member for increasing the planar surfacearea thereof.
 11. A hand cart as in claim 8 wherein said included angleis in the range of 80*-86* .
 12. A hand cart as in claim 8 wherein theback frame member is generally vertical and includes a sheet materialsecured to said back main frame member in such manner that the angleassumed by the sheet material with respect to the vertical decreasesfrom the lower portion of the main frame member to the upper portionthereof.
 13. A hand cart as in claim 12 wherein the uppermost portion ofsaid sheet material is vertical.
 14. A hand cart for stacking goods ininterlocking relationship comprising a back main frame member having twospaced apart supporting roller means at the bottom portion thereof;opposite side vertical frame members connected to the opposite sideportions of said main frame member, each said opposite vertical framemember having roller means mounted at its front portion; a bottom shelfmember mounted at the bottom portion of said main frame member andbetween said opposite side vertical frame members, said bottom shelfmember being inclined with respect to the horizontal so as to definewith said back main frame member an included angle less than 90* ; saidback main frame member including a wall portion extending at an angle tothe plane of said main frame member, which angle is less than the angleof inclination of said bottom shelf member with respect to thehorizontal, and wherein said bottom shelf member is connected to saidwall portion of said back main frame member.
 15. A hand cart as in claim14 wherein said wall portion is inclined relative to said back mainframe member approximately 3*-5* .